Just don't have that Christmas feeling ...

[Guest ste and cheryl]

I received a text message at 6am this morning from my mum saying she'd seen the Coca Cola Christmas Advert in the UK ... every year it's a competition to see who spots it first on the TV ! You know Christmas is here when you see that !!

 

I don't know if I'm being a bit morbid but it doesn't feel like Christams is just round the corner at all ! And I'm not looking forward to it I can't get my head round having it in the sun and with no family! I hope when Christmas day does come and we're sat one the beach with a BBQ, I'll change my mind about an Aussie Christmas lol.

 

Anyone else have or had this feeling for their first Christmas here?

 

...x

[Rachiegarlo]

Yep, our first christmas here a long time ago felt strange, but it is what you make of it. You can make your own rituals and get together with friends. You grew up with cold Christmases, indoors with the stomach groaning in front of the TV after lunch waiting for the Queen's speech or some other programme. There are things that people do at christmas here...Carols by Candlelight in Elder Park in town, The christmas lights down at the brewery near Port Rd. It will be different, but make it your own and build on it.

[Guest moonraker1959]

Xmas can be a tough time for those that have moved away.I know,because I live in the UK and most of my family are in South Oz!Try and keep focussed on your own immediate family,maybe try and hook up on skype with those in the UK,but thank god it is only one day.Try not to feel sad,although you are bound to miss people,try and remember happy thoughts about them,that way you'll hopefully smile!And remember,you're not alone!Most of us feel that way!

[Guest kas17]

I received a text message at 6am this morning from my mum saying she'd seen the Coca Cola Christmas Advert in the UK ... every year it's a competition to see who spots it first on the TV ! You know Christmas is here when you see that !!

 

I don't know if I'm being a bit morbid but it doesn't feel like Christams is just round the corner at all ! And I'm not looking forward to it I can't get my head round having it in the sun and with no family! I hope when Christmas day does come and we're sat one the beach with a BBQ, I'll change my mind about an Aussie Christmas lol.

 

Anyone else have or had this feeling for their first Christmas here?

 

...x

 

We are having that feeling too, its our first Christmas. Know I should be starting to write cards to post to the Uk and buying kids presents but just doesnt feel like it is nearly the end of November

[Guest shella_n]

I know exactly what you mean. I keep reading on facebook that my relatives are wrapping xmas presents etc and each time I read it it jolts me back to reality that it is nearly christmas ...... it just sooooo doesnt feel like it does it?

 

We have decided to do the BBQ thing this year too.

 

I am trying to still do christmassy stuff for the kids but its really difficult - there are no cold dark nights looking at twinkly christmas lights, no carol concerts with hot chocolate and chestnuts, no christmas shopping wrapped up in gloves and scarfs, none of the obligatory xmas ads on telly.....definately not feeling like xmas! (i know some would say thank god there are no cold nights etc but thats what makes in xmas at home for me)

[andy and lindsey]

I know exactly how you feel - this will be our 4th Christmas here and no it doesnt feel at all like Christmas - we do try to do things to make it feel more christmassy though. We do the carols in Elder Park - fantastic evening - especially when it gets dark. We are down south and on Christmas Eve the Mick O' Sheas on South Road does Carols by candlelight and Santa comes - lovely night everyone sat on the lawn singing carols. Old Noarlunnga has some fantastic Christmas lights too. The whole village is decked out with lights and the locals sell popcorn and candy floss - lots of people walking around enjoying the night. Yes Christmas here is different but I dont find it as commercialised and Im certain that I dont spend as much money here as I did in the UK. Spend the day with friends on the beach and make of it what you can

 

Have you seen the christmas lights starting to appear yet - quite normal after the pageant

[Guest WhatNow?]

Lobethal village (in the Adelaide Hills) is totally given over to Christmas displays from mid December and a lot of the houses compete for the best display - definitely worth a visit.

Welcome to 'The Lights' Website! | Lights of Lobethal

There is a 'route' around the narrow lanes and you drive round slowly. You can stop and get out to have a closer look wherever it is safe and there are lots of craft and food stalls open.

Also just outside the city down Port Road, the Brewery lights (as a previous post mentioned) are worth a look along the river bank. I remember a few years ago there was a torrential downpour just before Christmas and Baby Jesus and some of the Seven Dwarves got washed away and Moby Dick swam out to sea...let's hope that doesn't happen this year!

50 years of smiles at the Brewery Christmas lights - ABC Adelaide - Australian Broadcasting Corporation

[Guest Django]

Can't say I know what Christmas is meant to 'feel like'. All I remember of Christmas in the UK is loads of people crammed in a house eating twice as much food as they normally do. Condensation running down the inside of the windows as the oven and hob went into overdrive. To cold to escape the crowd into the garden and generally feeling claustrophobic.

Here we can have a family and friends day down on the beach, chilling out and completely stress free.

 

Christmas in the UK?

[Guest WhatNow?]

Can't say I know what Christmas is meant to 'feel like'. All I remember of Christmas in the UK is loads of people crammed in a house eating twice as much food as they normally do. Condensation running down the inside of the windows as the oven and hob went into overdrive. To cold to escape the crowd into the garden and generally feeling claustrophobic.

Here we can have a family and friends day down on the beach, chilling out and completely stress free.

 

Christmas in the UK?

 

I agree Django - Christmas Day here can be enjoyed by Mums as well! Barbie on the beach - leave it to the guys and chill out. Also you don't have the rows about who is going to whose house! On the other hand the build up (apart from the shopping) is something that people enjoy - carols light etc - but the rest - forget it!

[ShaunWilson]

4th Xmas here, and still doesn't feel right. The only time of the year i actually miss being back in the UK. But thats about it. I'm sure if i went back for it, i would feel much different about it and realise I don't really miss it. Think it's more about memories of how Xmas "should" be from when i was growing up.

[lorluc]

Our first xmas was strange as we had only been here for a few weeks...so kind of felt like we were in holiday mode still!

 

But as we approach our 6th xmas in OZ.....must admit i prefer xmas here............there isn't so much hype which doesn't get the kids into a mad frenzy....as was the norm in the UK. Also, its strange as the kids tend to be looking forward to the 6/7 week school holidays more than anything!!!!!!! Or maybe thats just mine? lol

 

Having said all that....there is definitely the lack of xmas celebrations at school, such as carol concerts, nativity plays etc..........my kids have done nothing like that at all since coming here..........

[Guest BrianS]

will be my second christmas here this year and i prefer it a hell of a lot more than in the uk, that could just be because my family used to go abroad for christmas so even though the tree was up and friends were around come christmas day it was boring and lonely, over here i have my partners family, my brother and his wife and general merryment in the sun. not going out on a huge binge christmas eve however i do miss a bit.

[Guest jordanfamily]

hi its our first Christmas too and we been here just 4 weeks. I can't get head round it been Christmas but I am looking forward to a different kind of Christmas day with my two youngest daughters. I have found Skyping has made it easier to settle cos can still chat and see family. Messages from my eldest two girls about frost, rain and ice also help me think I would rather be here ;-).

[Guest ste and cheryl]

Thank you all for your replies !!

 

Shella_n I know exactly what you mean !!

 

I am missing wrapping up in hat, scarf and gloves, hitting the shops and returning to your car at 4pm and it being dark, I miss hearing the Christmas carols on the sky music channels, I miss not being able to snuggle up on the sofa with my hubby and watch Christmas films, putting my Christmas tree up on the 1st Decemeber while it's warm inside and looking at the cold, dark night outside with the carols on and a glass of ice cold Baileys, all the prezzies under the tree, all the cards of neighbours you speak to once a year ... that's Christmas to me.

 

I actually think if I could, I would go back to the UK for Christmas, but I have to experience an Aussie Christmas I suppose.

 

Next year will be better I'm hoping, we'll have moved into a new place, have lots more decorations, a big tree, a table I can actually decorate with Christmas plates and crackers (we're in a one bed unit at the mo, not alot of space at all) AND ... my mum, dad and little brother will have got their visa and will have moved here too by Christmas 2011 :jiggy:

[Anne B]

It's only the middle of November !! Plenty of time yet.......

 

It will get more Christmassey here about the last week before. I hate the fact that Christmas starts so early in the UK - I used to be totally fed up with it before it even started, so Christmas here is better in that respect.

 

This will be my 7th Aussie Christmas and I must admit in many ways I prefer Christmas here. It will never be the same as a winter Christmas, but it can be just as good - just different. Must admit I'm really looking forward to putting the Christmas tree up with all our decorations - our stuff was still somewhere in transit last year.

 

And New Years Eve is so much better in summer !!

[ShaunWilson]

And New Years Eve is so much better in summer !!

 

 

Got to agree with you with that one.

[suziewozie]

At my daughters school they have a really good christmas show. The kids dress up , they sing carols, have a nativity, and even the teachers get up at the end and sing , all in a very good night. And the bonus is as its summer we all get to sit outside, the bbq's on and we all bring our own alcohol. We even have fireworks at the end of the evening - the fire fighters are always on hand !! ( luckily they are only 100 yards away!).

This is a really good way to start to feel in the mood for Christmas.

I must admit I do find Christmas here much more relaxing , and the kids definately have much more fun.

[jim and adel]

It will be our fourth Christmas here and it still doesn't feel right. I don't think I'll ever get used to having Christmas during summer time. Our plan from next year, should finances allow, is to start visiting the UK on the run up to Christmas every other year. It's the time of year we really miss the UK.

 

Oh and on the point about Christmas starting earlier in the UK, Woolies in Mt Barker had all the signage up in Mid October (apparently much to the embarrassment of the shop assistants when I mentioned it to one of them!)

 

Jim

[Diane]

Having said all that....there is definitely the lack of xmas celebrations at school, such as carol concerts, nativity plays etc..........my kids have done nothing like that at all since coming here..........

 

Oh how envious I am of you in this case! Between now and Christmas, DD has so many carol performances and christmas stuff to fit in that my head is spinning (as Chief Keeper of the Diary and Taxi Service!) - she's doing panto for three weekends in a row (starting this weekend - Tea Tree Players | The best little theatre in Adelaide if anyone wants to get tickets!) then has carol performances at various venues with the Aus Girls Choir in the lead up to Xmas - Mitcham Carols in the Park, Unley Carols at the Rotunda, Norwood Payneham and Peters Carol Service, carols at the Airport, carols in Rundle Mall.. to tell the truth, I'm already sick of carols, and they've not even started yet!! (By the way if anyone wants to know dates of the above stuff, just ask - I have a sheet with dates and details for just about every day in December!)